{"id":339652,"date":"2023-10-31T19:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=339652"},"modified":"2023-12-13T21:20:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T11:20:29","slug":"young-people-look-to-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/10\/31\/young-people-look-to-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Young People Look To The Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Patterns echoing the old Cherbourg Emu Farm are featured on this fabric design by Yolandie Gadd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 31, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Confident, colourful and creative … this was the face of Cherbourg’s young people on show at the official opening of the community’s new “YAG Shop” on Friday.<\/p>\n

The shop, at Bert Button Lookout, is the latest project of Cherbourg\u2019s Youth Advisory Group (YAG).<\/p>\n

It sells floral arrangements, fashion items, handmade candles and jewellery, all designed by younger members of the Cherbourg community.<\/p>\n

The business is an expansion of a project which YAG members began earlier this year after taking workshops with Murgon florist Felicity Aitken.<\/p>\n

The aim is for more workshops in both floristry and digital design to be held at the centre in the future.<\/p>\n

Elders at the opening ceremony were presented with floral “crowns” which they wore with pride.<\/p>\n

The young Wirri-Wakka group also performed a series of traditional dances.<\/p>\n

However, the highlight of the morning was the fashion parade, with formal wear, beach wear, scarves, wraps, bags, umbrellas – and even shoes! – modelled by community members.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Designs by Martina, Yolandie, Wawida and Karla were digitised and then sent away to be incorporated into fashion items.<\/p>\n

Bundaberg businesswoman Julie Appo, who runs her own fashion shop on the coast, guided the process, led the design workshops and compered Friday’s parade.<\/p>\n

“I want us to have something where you could actually make a living from this,” Julie said.<\/p>\n

She said having retail outlets where the items could be sold was really important.<\/p>\n

The fashion items will be available to purchase at both the YAG Shop and at Julia’s business in Bundaberg and, hopefully eventually, overseas.<\/p>\n

The old Emu Farm building, which houses the YAG Shop, and surrounding lookout area also received a makeover thanks to the RACQ Foundation.<\/p>\n

RACQ Chief Executive and Foundation Director David Carter said the Foundation had brought up 18 volunteers to work in the Cherbourg community for a week.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They did painting as well as tidying up the gardens and barbecue area.<\/p>\n

The group also helped out at The Ration Shed with some archive work.<\/p>\n

Another 18 RACQ volunteers – mostly current office staff or retired employees – are working in the Cherbourg community this week, helping out with upgrades and repairs at the football oval.<\/p>\n

David said the Foundation had been doing volunteer projects in regional Queensland since 2016.<\/p>\n

They aim to complete three projects every year.<\/p>\n

This was the second time they had worked in an Indigenous community.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Cherbourg Council Community Services Manager Edwina Stewart said the aim was for the YAG Shop to be open a couple of days every week as a trial.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This week, it would be open on Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n

It would also be open when workshops were under way, such as candle, soap and jewellery-making.<\/p>\n

Orders could also be taken for the clothing as well as floral items.<\/p>\n

For more information – and to check opening times – contact Yolandie Gadd on 0498-882-337 or Wawida Collins on 0467-803-992.<\/p>\n